October what?

Oh how fast this month is going!

Our house (aka 2 BR apartment) has been a whirlwind of activity.  We have had the kids here much of September and a good portion of October as well.  When Limaris is home and feeling good, they are with her and when Ruby (Jonerik's other sister) is not working her kids usually stay with her - there is not pattern to scenario.  Someone asked me today how we do what we do, and I just laughed.   I really have no idea how, but it really does all work out. 

Some keys to keeping my sanity:

-I finally bought and use a good old-fashioned calendar which is now filled and color coded!

-Noting ways to feed lots of people with little notice - keep cooked pasta on hand in the fridge...have more meat ready to thaw and cook-it can be stored for another meal if it turns out to be just the 2 of us and we have extra - I am always open to suggestions!

-My coffee supply is fully stocked =)

-I try to keep my Bible in the center of our house (the shelf in the kitchen)...and open!

-Prayer, prayer, singing, prayer, singing, and more prayer.
(I can usually gauge the level of happiness vs. stress in our home by the amount of singing going on... when things are going well our life is typically a musical)

Limaris has another test tomorrow that will help us know where things are at with her cancer.  She will most likely go to the hospital again for treatment on Monday and will be in for about a week. 

When the kids off  from school recently, we went to one of our new favorite (very small) parks for a picnic lunch.  It is settled right under one of our bridges and isn't too far from our home. 

Poem by a friend...

A friend of ours approached me recently and asked me to share this poem in hopes that it may help someone else struggling in a hard place:

Antifreeze is to cool an engine down.

I drank antifreeze down cup after cup.

Then went to sleep with antifreeze running through me.

My husband died.
I lived!

A true miracle of God.

I can speak!
I can see!
I can hear!

I can actually write this down due to God alone.

I live because he chose for me to live.

Why he chose to intervene?
I know not why.

It goes beyond understanding and knowledge.

I am walking with the Lord now.

God is the only one who can truly love us.

He can give us a peace beyond understanding.

He can reach through pain that no one else can get too!

To invite him into your life changes your life.

It brings breath to life.

Why he chose me is a mystery to me!

Many choose suicide as a way out.

My own father chose to shoot himself.

The cost of suicide is a high price!
It’s a ticket straight to hell not death or rest!

So before you try to kill yourself why not invite the Lord your personal savior into your life!

-Anonymous Friend

Bridge of Hope LCC

Before I (Emily) came to Philly and married Jonerik, I worked for a non-profit organization called Bridge of Hope Lancaster and Chester Counties.  The mission of Bridge of Hope LCC is:

"to end and prevent homelessness for women and children with the help of trained mentoring teams within congregations. Single mothers achieve permanent housing and financial self‑sufficiency through employment and attain stability and enhanced self‑esteem through ongoing mentoring friendships. Our goal is to exemplify Christ’s love and to promote physical, emotional, social, and spiritual wholeness."

Does that sounds amazing?  Because it is!  This organization's goal is to assist single mothers who are facing homelessness and to do through the church and through trained professionals.

My role with Bridge of Hope LCC in Lancaster was direct work with the mom's in the program.  I met with women on regular basis and we worked through budgeting, life skills, finding resources, more education, ect.  I did this for 3 1/2 years.

When we got married, I commuted to Coatesville part-time to work in the Chester County office as the Program Administrative Assistant.  I did this for about 6 months.

My current role with Bridge of Hope LCC is "Program Communications Coordinator".  I write for a few of their publications, handle press releases and do other communications work.  The benefit of this role in our current situation is that I can do 95% of this work from home (the closest office is in Chester County)!

Check out the website to learn more:  Bridge of Hope LCC

We are also on Facebook and soon we will be on Twitter!

If you aren't on the mailing list and want to be, just let me know!  It will be well worth your time.